Method and apparatus for controlling vehicle noise

ABSTRACT

Vehicle noise, particularly truck noise, is controlled by providing noise measuring equipment on the truck itself to measure the amount of noise the truck is making. A transducer is placed on the truck, preferably outside of the cab and adjacent to the major noise source of the truck, and a noisometer is mounted on the dashboard. The noisometer is calibrated to read the amount of noise the truck is making at a predetermined distance from the truck. The driver can, by referring to the noisometer, operate the truck in such a manner as to maintain the noise it makes within the legal range.

United States Patent [1 1 Kirkland, Jr. et al.

[ Dec. 24, 1974 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE NOISE [75] Inventors: Kenneth C. Kirkland, Jr.; Raymon E. Hunt, both of Longview, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Garlock Inc., Palmyra, NY.

[22] Filed: May 7, 1973 [21] Appl. No.2 357,858

[52] US. Cl 179/1 P, 179/1 VE, 181/.5 AP [51] Int. Cl G08g UN [58] Field of Search 179/1 P, 1 VB; 181/.5 VM, 181/.5 AP; 340/34, 52 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,545,218 3/1951 Weber et al. 340/34 2,791,630 5/1957 Klug 179/1 VE 2,820,361 1/1958 Apps 181/.5 AP 3,545,564 12/1970 Barber 181/.5 AP 3,661,224 5/1972 Allen et al. 181/.5 AP 3,695,098 l/l972 Kirkland 181/.5 AP

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,091,421 4/1955 France 340/34 Primary Examiner-William C. Cooper Assistant ExaminerDouglas W. Olms Attorney, Agent, or FirmShovee & Boston [57] ABSTRACT Vehicle noise, particularly'trnck noise, is controlled by providing noise measuring equipment on the truck itself to measure the amount of noise the truck is making. A transducer is placed on the truck, preferably outside of the cab and adjacent to the major noise source of the truck, and a noisometer is mounted on the dashboard. The noisometer is calibrated to read the amount of noise the truck is making at a predetermined distance from the truck. The driver can, by referring to the noisometer, operate the truck in such a manner as to maintain the noise it makes within the legal range.

26 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE NOISE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to vehicle noise pollution and in particular to a method and apparatus for controlling truck noise.

Efforts have been made to reduce truck noise, particularly in highly populated areas, and various noise laws restrict vehicle noise to a variety of different values. The laws commonly specifiy a certain value, such as 86 dBA, at a certain distance from the truck, such as 50 feet. However, the driver has no way of knowing how much noise his truck is making, thus, to be safe be must operate his truck at an unnecessarily low speed or power in low noise zones to ensure that the noise he is making is within the permissible range.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus that overcomes the above disadvantages, by providing a dash mounted noise indicator or noisometer that gives the driver a continuous reading of the level of noise his truck is producing at a predetermined distance from the truck. The driver can then control the operation of the truck, and in turn the level of noise the truck is producing, to keep the noise produced thereby within the permissible range.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the present invention includes a transducer (such as a microphone or other transducer including one that responds to surface vibrations), and a noise indicator on a vehicle for providing the vehicle operator with a continuous reading of the noise his vehicle is producing at a predetermined distance from the vehicle so that the operator can control the operation of the vehicle to maintain the noise it is making below a predetermined value at a predetermined distance from the vehicle. The transducer is preferably positioned on the truck in a position (usually outside of the cab) that provides at least an approximately linear relationship (and preferably the most nearly linear relationship) between the noise made at that point on the truck and the noise the truck makes at a specified distance from the truck, such as 50 ft. The noisometer is, in this case then, calibrated to read the amount of noise the truck makes at 50 ft. from the truck. The noisometer can give the actual reading or can simply have color coded (e.g., red and green) areas to tell the driver, not the actual value of the noise, but rather whether or not he is within the permissible range. The noisometer can also be a warning light (or any other common indicating device) that turns on when the driver exceeds the permissible range. If a location is used that does not provide a linear relationship, the noisometer can be calibrated (by reference to whatever the actual relationship is) to provide the desired information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description thereof, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show one location of the microphone for a diesel engine powered truck;

FIGS. 2A and 2B show one location of the microphone for a gasoline engine powered truck; and

FIGS. 3-5 show three different nois'ometers useful in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference now to the drawings, FIGS. 1A and 1B show a diesel truck 10 having noise measuring and indicating equipment 12 mounted thereon according to the present invention. The noise measuring and indicating equipment 12 includes a-transducer, such as a microphone 14, connected to a noise indicator or noisometer 16 mounted preferably on a dashboard (not shown) of the truck 10. FIG. 1 shows one preferred location for the microphone 14 for a diesel truck as being outside a cab 18 and adjacent (about 3 inches behind) a rear wall 20 of the cab. Another useful location for the microphone 14 on a diesel truck is outside the cab 18 centrally positioned with respect to the cab rear wall 20 (about 3 inches behind the cab) and just below the top of the cab.

FIG. 2 shows a gasoline powered truck 22 with noise measuring and indicating equipment 24 thereon including a transducer, such as a microphone 26, positioned outside a cab 28 on top of the right front fender 30. The microphone 26 is connected to a dash mounted noisometer 32. This has been determined to be the best location for the microphone 26 on one particular gasoline powered truck.

FIG. 3 shows a noisometer 34 of the present invention including a scale 36 and a needle 38; the noisometer 34 is calibrated to read in dBA at a predetermined distance from the truckor other vehicle on which it is mounted.

FIG. 4 shows another noisometer 40 of the present invention including a scale 42 and an indicator 44. The scale 42 has no quantitative breakdown but only a green zone 46 and a red zone 48. The noisometer 40 is calibrated such that a dividing line 50 between the two zones is the maximum allowable noise at the legally specified distance from the truck. The driver can then operate the truck as he wishes as long as the indicator 44 is kept in the green zone 46.

FIG. 5 shows another noisometer 52 of the present invention that includes two separate scales 54 and 56 with one indicator 58. The noisometer 52 is useful where the truck is used in different areas with noise laws that are based on different distances from the truck, such as, for example, 15 feet and 50 feet. The scale 54 is calibrated for use in the 15 feet areas and the scale 56 is calibrated for use in the 50 feet areas. Alternatively, a single scale can be used with a switch to mechanically move the scale or to electrically convert to the other calibration.

Noisometers can be calibrated permanently at the factory or can be provided with means for further calibrating the instrument on the road by the operator, as the truck goes from an area having one type of noise law to another area having a different noise law. The noisometer can have three colored areas, such as a green zone, an orange zone and a red zone, the orange zone indicating noise that is permitted above a certain vehicle speed and the green indicating noise permitting for speeds below said certain speed.

The noisometer can be positioned in other locations than on the normal dashboard; the term dashboard" as used in the present specification and claims is hereby defined to mean any area in the cab easily visible to the driver. The transducer, such as a microphone, is preferably located close to the major noise sources of the truck (for example, the engine, fan, exhaust system or tires) and is protected from excessive wind or random noise by shielding and isolation mounts, and is preferably in a position where the relationship between the amount of noise made at that location, to the amount of noise made at a specified distance from the vehicle such as 50 feet, is linear. This simplifies calibration of the instrument as will be understood by one skilled in the art. However, such linear relationship is not absolutely essential and the calibration can be made even if the relationship is not linear. The locations specified above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2 are locations that were found to provide essentially a linear relationship. Any new truck configuration (shape, engine size, etc.) can be tested to determine what location(s) provide the most nearly linear relationship. A truck can be provided with several noisometers, one, for example, for use with each different statelaw. A different noisometer or scale can be used for under a certain speed limit and for over a certain speed, rather than having a selector switch on the noisometer for use with a single scale. The noise indicator can be a meter or other device such as a warning buzzer or a light, which is activated when the legal maximum is reached or approached.

While a truck can employ separate scales for separate legal jurisdictions having different laws on noise levels, preferably a single scale is used with a switch for determining the mode in which the indicator operates. Such a switch would be similar to a switch on a sound level meter, commonly known as an attenuator, that controls the gain of the meter amplifier in precisely known steps. A transducer-indicator sound level meter, such as the B and K Sound Level Meter Type 2205 can be used in the present invention. Such a meter includes a piezoelectric microphone, is powered by a 'l .5 v cell, has a measuring range of 32 to 140 dB SL with A, B, and C weighting networks, and with a signal to noise ratio of better than 5 dB for the lower limit.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for use in controlling the amount of noise made by a truck so that the truck can be operated in such a manner as to maintain the noise it makes within the legal range, comprising:

a. a transducer adapted to be mounted on a truck for sensing the amount of noise made by a truck, and

2.'The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said noisometer is calibrated to read the amount of noise made a predetermined distance away from said transducer.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said noisometer is calibrated to indicate the level of noise made fifty feet away from said transducer.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said noisometer includes a scale and an indicator, and wherein said scale includes only two zones, one indicating a legal amount of noise and the .other indicating an illegal amount of noise.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 including a truck, and wherein said transducer and noisometer are mounted on said truck.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said transducer is located on said vehicle in a position where the relationship between the noise level produced at said location and at said predetermined distance from said truck is approximately linear.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said noisometer is located in the cab and is viewable by the driver.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said transducer is located on said vehicle-in a position where the relationship between the noise level produced at said location and at said predetermined distance from 'said truck, is approximately linear.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said noisometer is calibrated to read the amount of noise made a predetermined distance away from said transducer.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said noisometer includes means for indicating the level of noise made at more than one predetermined distance from said truck.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said noisometer includes means for indicating the level of noise made at more than one predetermined distance from said transducer.

12. A method for controlling a level of noise made by a vehicle comprising:

a. sensing, on the vehicle, the level of noise being made by the vehicle; and

b. providing an indication to the driver of the vehicle of the level of noise being made by the vehicle at a predetermined distance from the vehicle, the indicated level of noise being less lhan the actual level of noise that exists at the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 12 including controlling the level of noise the truck is making to keep it below a predetermined indicated level.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said vehicle is a truck and said providing step comprises positioning a noisometer on said truck in a position viewable by a driver.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein said sensing step comprises providing a transducer on said truck and wherein said indication providing step comprises connecting said transducer to a noisometer mounted on a dashboard of said truck.

16. The method according to claim 15 including positioning said transducer outside of a cab of said truck.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein said truck is a diesel engine powered truck and said positioning step comprises positioning said transducer adjacent a rear wall of said cab.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein said truck is a gasoline engine powered truck and said positioning step comprises positioning said transducer adjacent the top of the right front fender of said cab.

19. The method according to claim including calibrating said noisometer to indicate the level of noise the truck makes at a predetermined distance from the truck.

20. The method according to claim 19 including locating said transducer at a position on said truck that provides approximately linear relationship between the level of noise being made by said truck at that position and the level of noise being made by said truck at said predetermined distance from the truck.

21. The method according to claim 12 wherein said measuring comprises positioning a transducer on said vehicle in a location that provides an approximately linear relationship between the level of noise being made by said vehicle at that position and the level of noise being made by said vehicle at a predetermined distance from said vehicle.

22. The method according to claim 12 wherein said predetermined distance is 50 feet.

23. The new use of truck noise measuring equipment including a transducer and a noise indicator comprising:

a. locating the transducer on a truck;

b. positioning the noise indicator on the dashboard of said truck; and

c. calibrating said noise indicator to read the level of noise said truck makes at a predetermined distance from the truck.

24. The new use according to claim 23 including locating said transducer outside of the truck cab and adjacent a major noise source of said truck.

25. The new use according to claim 23 including 10- cating said transducer at a location where the relationship between the noise level produced at said location and at a predetermined distance from said truck is approximately linear.

26. The new use according to claim 23 including operating said truck to maintain the level of noise it produces below a predetermined indicated value on said noise indicator.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 1 3,856,991

DATED December 24, 19W

TNVENTORTST Kenneth C. Kirkland, Jr. and Ray-men E. Hunt It is certified that error appears in the ab0ve-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Claim 12, line 1 change "a" to --the-.

In Claim 12, line 8 change "lhan to --than-. Signed and Scaled this twenty-sixth Day Of August 1975 [SEAL] q Arrest.

RUTH C. MASON Commissioner oj'larenrs and Trademarks 

1. Apparatus for use in controlling the amount of noise made by a truck so that the truck can be operated in such a manner as to maintain the noise it makes within the legal range, comprising: a. a transducer adapted to be mounted on a truck for sensing the amount of noise made by a truck, and b. a noisometer connected to said transducer and adapted to be mounted on a truck, and said noisometer being calibrated to indicate the level of noise made by a truck on which said transducer is mounted and existing at a predetermined distance away from said transducer, said indicated level thus being less than the actual level of noise existing at said transducer.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said noisometer is calibrated to read the amount of noise made a predetermined distance away from said transducer.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said noisometer is calibrated to indicate the level of noise made fifty feet away from said transducer.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said noisometer includes a scale and an indicator, and wherein said scale includes only two zones, one indicating a legal amount of noise and the other indicating an illegal amount of noise.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 including a truck, and wherein said transducer and noisometer are mounted on said truck.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said transducer is located on said vehicle in a position where the relationship between the noise level produced at said location and at said predetermined distance from said truck is appRoximately linear.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said noisometer is located in the cab and is viewable by the driver.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said transducer is located on said vehicle in a position where the relationship between the noise level produced at said location and at said predetermined distance from said truck, is approximately linear.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said noisometer is calibrated to read the amount of noise made a predetermined distance away from said transducer.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said noisometer includes means for indicating the level of noise made at more than one predetermined distance from said truck.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said noisometer includes means for indicating the level of noise made at more than one predetermined distance from said transducer.
 12. A method for controlling a level of noise made by a vehicle comprising: a. sensing, on the vehicle, the level of noise being made by the vehicle; and b. providing an indication to the driver of the vehicle of the level of noise being made by the vehicle at a predetermined distance from the vehicle, the indicated level of noise being less lhan the actual level of noise that exists at the vehicle.
 13. The method according to claim 12 including controlling the level of noise the truck is making to keep it below a predetermined indicated level.
 14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said vehicle is a truck and said providing step comprises positioning a noisometer on said truck in a position viewable by a driver.
 15. The method according to claim 12 wherein said sensing step comprises providing a transducer on said truck and wherein said indication providing step comprises connecting said transducer to a noisometer mounted on a dashboard of said truck.
 16. The method according to claim 15 including positioning said transducer outside of a cab of said truck.
 17. The method according to claim 16 wherein said truck is a diesel engine powered truck and said positioning step comprises positioning said transducer adjacent a rear wall of said cab.
 18. The method according to claim 16 wherein said truck is a gasoline engine powered truck and said positioning step comprises positioning said transducer adjacent the top of the right front fender of said cab.
 19. The method according to claim 15 including calibrating said noisometer to indicate the level of noise the truck makes at a predetermined distance from the truck.
 20. The method according to claim 19 including locating said transducer at a position on said truck that provides approximately linear relationship between the level of noise being made by said truck at that position and the level of noise being made by said truck at said predetermined distance from the truck.
 21. The method according to claim 12 wherein said measuring comprises positioning a transducer on said vehicle in a location that provides an approximately linear relationship between the level of noise being made by said vehicle at that position and the level of noise being made by said vehicle at a predetermined distance from said vehicle.
 22. The method according to claim 12 wherein said predetermined distance is 50 feet.
 23. The new use of truck noise measuring equipment including a transducer and a noise indicator comprising: a. locating the transducer on a truck; b. positioning the noise indicator on the dashboard of said truck; and c. calibrating said noise indicator to read the level of noise said truck makes at a predetermined distance from the truck.
 24. The new use according to claim 23 including locating said transducer outside of the truck cab and adjacent a major noise source of said truck.
 25. The new use according to claim 23 including locating said transducer at a location where the relationship between the noise level produced at said location and at a predetermined disTance from said truck is approximately linear.
 26. The new use according to claim 23 including operating said truck to maintain the level of noise it produces below a predetermined indicated value on said noise indicator. 